The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund

Analysis

The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund is a registered charity in England and Wales, based in London. It was registered in September 1962, 64 years ago. Its declared purposes cover education/training, the advancement of health or saving of lives, disability and the prevention or relief of poverty, which this site groups under health and saving lives. It says it other charitable activities.

In the financial year ending December 2025, The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund reported income of £2.4m and spending of £1.3m, leaving 46% of income unspent that year. Across the 5 years on record, from December 2021 to December 2025, income grew from £1.1m to £2.4m (+119%), an average of +22% a year. The sharpest change came in the year to December 2025, when income rose by 238%. Over the whole period it spent 92% of the income it received.

Among 24,651 England and Wales charities whose main cause is health and saving lives and that reported income, The Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund sits at the 94th percentile: it is larger than about 94% of them. Against every charity in England and Wales with reported income it ranks in the 97th percentile. Charities of a similar size with the same main cause include Advocacy Support in Cymru Ltd (£2.4m), Starlow Charities Limited (£2.4m) and Day One Trauma Support (£2.4m).

In its latest detailed accounts, income came from donations and legacies 96% and investments 3.6%. Gifts in wills alone brought in £246k. Charitable activities took 99% of spending and raising funds 0.9%. Reserves of £6.1m would cover about 57 months of spending at that rate.